Drawer device for desks and the like



Nov. 13, 1934. Y M. RAGGlQ 1,980,824

DRAWER DEVICE FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE l Qi- -lli QQ i:

NN w i if E lg f6; a AMmmm Minimum I f Nov. 13, 1934. M. H. RAGGIO Y 1,980,824

DRAWER DEVICE FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE Filed March 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nom-13', 1934. M. H. RAGGIO 1,980,824

DRAWER DEVICE FOR DESKS ANDl THE LIKE Filed March 2l. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE DRAWER DEVICE FOR DESKS'AND THE LIKE Maynard H. Raggio, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 21,

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to drawer devices and the like, such as those used in desks and the like.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel locking means, a novel guide means, and a novel connection between the drawer and the guide means.

In a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the device has channelled guide means at the sides of the drawer with guide and supporting means, such as a cross member or carrier connected to the end of the drawer, the carrier being provided with guide elements, such as rollers, movable in the channels of the channelled guide means. Adjacent the channelled guide means is located a locking member, such as a bar preferably disposed outside the guide means, and having projections or tongues extending through slots provided in the guide means. At the ends of the carrier are provided locking elements adapted to cooperate with the projections of the bar, to effect a locking of the drawer. The locking bar is suspended from a resilient element connected to a crank member rotatably supported in the device and a crank arm of which is engageable by another drawer for operation to lift the bar in position for locking operation.

The shaft or shank of the crank member, also er, as also for a slide board. The cross-member or carrier is secured to the end of the drawer with a bolt having spaced shoulders at a fixed or given distance apart, one of the shoulders seating against the surface of the end wall of the drawer, and the other shoulder seating on a boss or like portion of the carrier. This prevents jamming the carrier against the drawer wall. The bolt has a threaded shank passing through the drawer wall and receiving a securing nut within the drawer. This nut may be tightened'even to the extent of jamming into the drawer wall material without changing the relation of the carrier and the outer face of the drawer wall as determined by the distance between the shoulders on the bolt. The contacting area of the shoulder bearing against the outer face of the drawer wall is greater than the contacting area of the nut secured within the drawer, thus preventing the shoulder digging into the material of the drawer wall when the nut is over-tightened.

Other objects, capabilities, advantages and features are comprehended by the invention as tacts as a limit stop for the locking control draw-v 1931, Serial No. 524,299

(Cl. I5- 77) will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby. l

Referring to the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view through a desk embodying the invention and in a plane represented by line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken in a plane represented by line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 3---3l in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a part shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear View oi a drawer and carrier; Y

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a locking bar;

Fig. 8 is a side or edge view of the bar shown in Fig. 7, with parts shown in section;

Fig. 9 is an endvievv of the securing bolt for the carrier and rear end of the drawer;

Fig. 10 is a View of the securing nut; and

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the locking crank member.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment selected to Aillustratethe invention is shown in connection with a desk having a top 1, front legs 2, 8, 4 and 5, rear legs 6, 7, 8 and. 9, side walls or panels 10, 11, v12 ,and 13, and rear walls or panels 14, 15 and 16.

Secured to theinner sides of the legs 3, 4, 7 and 8 are side rails or bars 17 and 18. Between these rails 17 and 18 and secured to them is a tie bottom 17a upon which is slidably guided a center drawer 19. On the outer sides of legs 3, 4, 7 and 8 and on the inner sides of legs 2, 5, 6 and 9 are secured guiding members in the form of angle irons 20, 21,. 22 and 23 within the dihedral angles and upon the horizontal flanges of which, are slidably guided arm or slide boards 24 and 25. Any suitable securing means, such as screws or the like may be used to x these guiding irons in place. It will be noted that the legs may be suitably recessed or mortised to receive the ends of these guiding irons, and also are suitably grooved to receive the edges of the panels.

The inner sides of legs 2, 6, 5 and 9 and the outer sides of legs 3, 7, 4 and 8 are also suitably recessed or mortised to receive the ends of guiding bars or rails, preferably in the form of channel irons 26, 27, 28 and 29, such ends being fastened to the legs by any suitable means, such as screws and 31 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Within the channels of the guiding bars 26, 27, 28 and 29 are movably disposed guiding members, such as rollers 32, 33, 34 and 35 rotatably carried by pins 36, 37, 38 and 39 (see Figs. 2 and 5,) fastened to rearwardly directed flanges 40, 41, 42 and 43 of cross members or carriers 44 and 45 secured to the rear walls 46 and 47 by bolts 48 and. 49, of drawers 50 and 51.

At the'front and beneath the side walls 52, 53, 54 and 55 of the drawers 50 and 51, arelocated front rollers 56, 57, 58 and 59 rotatably supported on studs or the like secured to the inner sides of legs 2 and 5 and theouter sides of legs 3 and 4. The lower edges of the side walls 52,

53, 54 and 55 rest upon and travel over the rollers 56, 57, 58 and. 59. 1 l l The drawers and 51 have bottoms 60 and 61 and front walls 62 and 63 to which are connectlit!) ed finger grips 64 ,and 65. The front wall of the center drawer 19 also has a nger grip 66.

Behind or on the inner sides of the channel guides 28 and` 29 and within the space between them and the panels 11' and 12, are vertically disposed locking bars 67 and 68. The upper end of each locking barfis provided with a laterally extending part or flange 69 the under face of which is engaged by a loop or eye 70 of a ilat spring 71.

. The other end of the spring 71 is reduced in width and is fixed in an aperture 72 of a shaft 73 of va locking crank ymember 74 rotatably carried in the' rails 17'or 18 and the flange of angle iron 21 or 22. The shaft 73 has a neck or reduced .diameter portion 75 adapted to t in a notch or bearing 76 formed in the flange ofangle iron This prevents axial displacement of the shaft 73. The other end of the shaft 73 carries a crank arm 77 which may bejin the form of a loop or eye 77, as clearly shown in Figs. 3

and 4. Anend portion 78 of the shaft 73, protrudes into the guiding space of the angle iron 21 or 22 and acts as a, limit stop for the rear end of the slide board 24 or-25.

In Fig. 2, the'rear ends of slide boards 24 and 25 are shown in Contact with the stops 78.` The portions 79 of the shafts 78, which extend into the guiding space of the rail members 17 and 18, act also as limit stops for the` rear end of the center drawer19, the rear end of this drawer descends, and the shaft 73 rotates to bring the crank arm 77 into the position `shown lin Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 5, 7 and 8, each locking bar has a struck-out piece 80 having a neck portion 81, ya body portion 82 and a head 83. The web of each guide bar 26, 27, 28 and 29, has a slot 84 (see 1 Figs. 3 and 4). The projection 80 extends through this slot, such that the neck 81 substantially fits in the slot, and is adapted to stop at the upper end of the slotwhen the locking bar 67 or 68 is lifted, and to rest on the lower end of the slot when the locking bar descends. The

length `of the slot is asmuch asand preferably slightly greater than the width of the head 83.

When assembling, theguide bar .26 or 27, or 28` or`29, isplaced parallel to the locking bar 67 or 68, to pass the headv 83 through the S1012 84 until the neck 81 is in the slot, and then the guide bar is turned The shoulders of the head portion 83, will prevent the projection 80 from being displaced through the slot.

At the ends of the carriers 44 and 45 are rearwardly directed locking members or hooks*y 85, 86, 87, and 88. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, each of these hooks, (represented as hook 87) is preferably integral withl or an extension of the fiange -42 to which the roller 'pin 38 is secured. The hook has an inclined edge 89, and a nose or tongue 91 respectively adapted to depress the locking bar 67 or 68, and to hook over the body portion 82 of the projection 80, the

overhanging portions of the head 83 acting as guards for the hook 87.

`Each carrier 44 or 45 has a central boss 92 (see Figs. 5 and' 6), and an annular bead 93,

the latter-being normally in contact with the rear wall 4,6 or 47 of the drawers 51 or 52. The body portion vof the carrier'r may have reinforcing ribs 94 and 95 and flanges 96 and 97. The boss has a central aperture in which nts a body portion 98 of the bolt 48 or 49. rThis bolt has a head 99 provided with a shoulder 100 in the form of an annular bead adapted to contact orwhich has a rounded head to facilitate the engagement of the wrench used to secure the nut in place.

The distance between the shoulders 100 and rio 102 is fixed or of given magnitude so as to alwaysA hold the boss and bead in place with the same or constant contacting pressure against the rear face of the wall 46 or 47. By this means, the

jamming of the carrier against the rear wall of the drawer, is prevented, but the desired amount of frictional engagement between ythe carrier at the bead 93 and the rear wall of the drawer, is maintained at a constant value.k This will permit the drawer tipping either way aboutv the axis of the bolt, in accommodation of any irregularities that might be presentr in the movement of the drawerv along its guides. No 'matter how tightly the nut 105 may be applied, ythe distance between the outer face of the boss 92 and the rear face of the wall 46 or 47, will remain constant. In order to prevent the shouldered part 102 from digging into or displacing the material of the rear Wall of the drawer, the area of Contact of the shoulder 102 is greater than the area of contact of the nut 105 on the front face of said wall, so that in the event of the nut being tightened to too great an extent, the nut may dig into the Wall rather than the shoulder 102. l

In assembling, the legs, panels, and top are suitably connected. v

The side rails 17 and 18 for the center drawer, are secured at their ends to the legs 3, 7, 4 and 8. The tie bottom 17a is mortised in the side rails 17 and 18 as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. shafts 73 of the locking cranks 74, are4 passed through the apertures provided therefor in the rails 17 and 18. (See Fig. 1.) l

n The slide board angle guides 20, 21. 22 and ist* rito

Then,

23 are then fastened at their ends tothe legs 3, 7, 4, 8, 2, 6, 5 andv 9 by screws or the like. As these angles are located in place, the necks of the locking cranks "are made to fit into the notches 76 formed in the upper flanges of the angle guides. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

The springs 71 are then inserted in the apertures 72 in the shafts 73, and suitably fixed in place. Later, the looped ends 70 of the springs, are located beneath the flanges 69 to engage or contact the lower faces thereof, whereby the locking bars 67 and 68 may be lifted or supported pendantly.

The guide rails or channel irons are then connected to the locking bar. Each guide rail is first placed substantially parallel to the locking bar with the slot of the guide rail opposite the projection of the locking bar, for insertion of the projection through the slot 84. After such insertion, the guide rail is then turned about with respect to the locking bar. The assembly of guide rails and a locking bar, is then located in place by inserting the ends of the guide rails in the mortises provided therefor in the legs, and by securing with screws o-r the like.

The hooks 7() of the locking springs 71 are then engaged beneath portions 69 of the locking bars 67 and 68.

The carriages then may be located on the rails. This is effected by introducing each carriage in the space between the rails and at an angle thereto, and then turning the carriage in the plane of the rails until the rollers swing into the channels of the rails and the position clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The bolt then may be inserted through the carriage. The corresponding drawer is passed over the front rollers and the drawer back brought opposite the bolt so that the threaded end of the bolt may pass through the hole in the back of the drawer. The nut 105 then is secured in place. The drawer is thus supported at three points, one by the bolt. and the other two by the front rollers.

All angle guides 20, 21, 22 and 23 are provided with notches 76, for universal use, with the locking cranks, but only those on legs 3, 7, 4 and 8 need to engage the necks 75 of the locking cranks. As for example, were angle guide 23 inserted in place of guide 20, or angle guide 22 inserted in place of guide 21, the notches therein would receive the necks of the shafts 73.

Likewise, all guide rails 26, 27, 28 and 29 are provided with slots 84. If rail 26 were in place of rail 28, the projections of locking bar 67 would pass through such slots, and also, were rail 26 in place of rail 29, the slots thereof would receive the projections of locking bar 68.

When the center drawer is withdrawn, the locking bars descend by gravity to the point where the necks 81 rest in the bottoms of the slots 84. The body portions 82 of the projections 80 clear or are below the path of noses or tongues 91 of the locking elements carried by the carrier. The drawers may be then freely withdrawn. The front portion of each drawer rides over the front rollers, and the rear end because of being suspended via the bolt and carriage, rides with the rollers 34 and 35 or 32 and 33 travelling in the channels of the channel guides or rails 29 and 27, or 26 and 28.

If the drawers are in rearmost positions, the locking is effected by pushing the center drawer into rearmost position. In doing this, the rear end of the center drawer contacts with and swings the crank arm 77 from the position shown in Fig.

3vto that in Fig. 4. This causes the shaft 73 to rotate and the spring 71 to be raised, and hence the locking bars 67 and 68 to be lifted until the necks 81 contactandstop at the upper endsv of the slots 8 4 in the guide rails. This brings the body portions 82 of the projections 80, into the path of the noses 91 of the locking hooks carried by the carriages. Any attempt tov withdraw a drawer will be stopped because of the noses 91 engaging the rear edges of the locking projections 80. (See Fig. 4.)

Should a drawer be already in withdrawn position, it may be locked automatically by pushing it to rearmost position. In doing so, as the hooks 87 move backward, the inclined edges or surfaces 89 will engage the locking projections 80 and depress the locking bars. After the noses 91 have passed over and beyond the rear edge of the projections 80, the springs 71 will automatically lift the bars into locking positions. (See Fig. 4.)

While I have herein described and upon the drawings illustrated an embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions, details, arrangements of parts, andfeatures without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a drawer device comprising a drawer, a guide, and a support connected to the drawer and movably associated with the guide, a connecting means for the support and comprising integral spaced abutments respectively engageable with the support and the drawer, and means for securing the connecting means to the drawer.

2. In a drawer device comprising a drawer, a guide, and a support connected to the drawer and movably associated with the guide, a connecting member having fixed shoulders at a given distance apart and respectively engaging the support and the drawer, and means for securing said connecting member to a wall of the drawer.

3. In a drawer device comprising a drawer, a guide, and a support connected to the drawer and movably associated with the guide, a connecting member having a head, a shoulder, and a shank, said head and shoulder being at a fixed distance apart and engaging respectively with said support and a wall of the drawer, and means for securing the shank to said wall of the drawer.

4. A drawer device comprising a drawer, guides at the sides of the drawer, a cross member at the rear wall of the drawer and having means movably associated with said guides, and means for and comprising fixed spaced abutments contacting the cross member and said rear wall, and means for securing said connecting means to said rear wall.

5. A drawer device comprising a drawer, guides at the sides of the drawer, a cross member at the rear wall of the drawer and having means movably associated with said guides, said cross member having a boss, and a connecting element having a head engaging said boss and a shoulder engaging said rear wall, and means for securing said connecting element to said rear wall.

6. A drawer device comprising a drawer, guides at the sides of the drawer, a cross member at the ,I

rear wall of the drawer and having means movably associated with said guides, and a stud having a shoulder at one end for engaging said cross member, a shoulder intermediate its length for engaging said wall, and a shank extending throughV saidY wall, and `means rengaging said shank and said Wall for securing the stud to, said wall.

7. A drawer device comprising `a drawer, guides at the sides of the drawer,'a cross member at the rear wall of the drawer and having means movably associated with said guides,` said cross mem- MAYNARD H. RAGGIO. 

